Honda Gold Wing biker rally starts today in Norwich
NORWICH – Today, hundreds of Honda Gold Wing Road Riders will be flocking to Norwich from all across New York and New Jersey to hold their first Bi-State Rally here.
Around 350 riders are expected to be rolling through the Chenango landscape this weekend, followed by countless other motorcycle enthusiasts. Accompanying them are several events and a few activities that can be enjoyed by both bike members and the public alike.
“The goal of the event is to just have some fun. I hate to say it real simple but – have fun. I’m sure there will be some education and some safety programs, but the whole idea is to enjoy yourself and the area,” said the group’s New York District Director Ed Bahrenburg.
According to organization’s public relations specialist Linda Waterman, “The Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) is the world’s largest social organization for owners and riders of Honda Gold Wing and Valkyrie motorcycles.”
Founded in 1977, the organization’s membership has grown to more than 800 chapters since, including 80,000 members in the United States, Canada and 53 other foreign countries.
The New York and New Jersey Chapters of the GWRRA decided to hold their annual rally at the Howard Johnson’s Hotel in Norwich from Aug. 6 to 8. Riders began arriving in Norwich earlier this week for the three-day event centered around the hotel, which is the official host of the event.
The chapters have typically held their rally separately, but this year the two states have decided to unite for a single event.
Howard Johnson’s General Manager Dana Meyer said planning for the event began over a year ago when Bahrenburg contacted her.
Meyer said Wednesday afternoon that the all 86 rooms in the Broad Street hotel were full. She also said all 42 rooms at the Super 8 Motel were booked. She said other lodgings like Fred’s Inn and the Norwich Inn were also nearing capacity.
“Basically we’ve gone and rented out every room in Chenango for the event,” she said.
Meyer estimated that the room and service offered by her company alone had injected over $30,000 into the local economy already.
According to statistics kept GWRRA, in helping members plan for weekend excursions, each couple generally spends an average of $500 during these types of events. That could mean a total boost to the local economy in the neighborhood of $175,000 by Saturday.
An array of vendors have begun setting up booths behind the Howard Johnson’s this morning.
“Our experiences in Norwich are not the norm. Norwich has showed us an overwhelming level of cooperation and enthusiasm and a ‘we can we do this for you’ attitude. Our treatment here goes way beyond what my partner from New Jersey has experienced or our experiences in any of the regions around the Northeast end of New York,” said Bahrenburg.
He went on to commend the City of Norwich and the police and fire chiefs for their cooperation.
While the rally is mainly for Gold Wing members, there will also be activities that the public can participate in. On Friday evening, the GWRRA will hold a lighted bike parade through the city.
At approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday, the Norwich Police Department will shut down Broad Street from the Howard Johnson’s to Eaton Avenue for the parade.
A police crash scene reconstruction will also be staged at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The City of Norwich Police and Fire Departments will help the organization stage an accident scene at the corner of Henry and Court streets.
Wednesday night, the bikers organized a ride to Gilligan’s Island in Sherburne for the restaurant’s weekly Bike Night that hundreds of local riders routinely attend.
Bahrenburg said GWRRA historically held its rallies at one location for two consecutive years before moving on to a new city. However, because the New Jersey and New York groups have consolidated their efforts, the next rally may alternate back to a New Jersey site before coming back to Norwich in 2011.
“Our experiences in Norwich so far have been tremendous. Next year we may head down to New Jersey, but there’s no reason for us not to come back here for the next New York rally,” said Bahrenburg
He said the benefits of going to the same place every year made rally planing easier, but the group wants to keep introducing its riders to new locations and bring the event to new communities. The group will be focused on the eastern part of the county this year heading towards Cooperstown and the Oneonta area; when the rally returns in two years they will move west toward the Cortland and Ithaca areas.
Around 350 riders are expected to be rolling through the Chenango landscape this weekend, followed by countless other motorcycle enthusiasts. Accompanying them are several events and a few activities that can be enjoyed by both bike members and the public alike.
“The goal of the event is to just have some fun. I hate to say it real simple but – have fun. I’m sure there will be some education and some safety programs, but the whole idea is to enjoy yourself and the area,” said the group’s New York District Director Ed Bahrenburg.
According to organization’s public relations specialist Linda Waterman, “The Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) is the world’s largest social organization for owners and riders of Honda Gold Wing and Valkyrie motorcycles.”
Founded in 1977, the organization’s membership has grown to more than 800 chapters since, including 80,000 members in the United States, Canada and 53 other foreign countries.
The New York and New Jersey Chapters of the GWRRA decided to hold their annual rally at the Howard Johnson’s Hotel in Norwich from Aug. 6 to 8. Riders began arriving in Norwich earlier this week for the three-day event centered around the hotel, which is the official host of the event.
The chapters have typically held their rally separately, but this year the two states have decided to unite for a single event.
Howard Johnson’s General Manager Dana Meyer said planning for the event began over a year ago when Bahrenburg contacted her.
Meyer said Wednesday afternoon that the all 86 rooms in the Broad Street hotel were full. She also said all 42 rooms at the Super 8 Motel were booked. She said other lodgings like Fred’s Inn and the Norwich Inn were also nearing capacity.
“Basically we’ve gone and rented out every room in Chenango for the event,” she said.
Meyer estimated that the room and service offered by her company alone had injected over $30,000 into the local economy already.
According to statistics kept GWRRA, in helping members plan for weekend excursions, each couple generally spends an average of $500 during these types of events. That could mean a total boost to the local economy in the neighborhood of $175,000 by Saturday.
An array of vendors have begun setting up booths behind the Howard Johnson’s this morning.
“Our experiences in Norwich are not the norm. Norwich has showed us an overwhelming level of cooperation and enthusiasm and a ‘we can we do this for you’ attitude. Our treatment here goes way beyond what my partner from New Jersey has experienced or our experiences in any of the regions around the Northeast end of New York,” said Bahrenburg.
He went on to commend the City of Norwich and the police and fire chiefs for their cooperation.
While the rally is mainly for Gold Wing members, there will also be activities that the public can participate in. On Friday evening, the GWRRA will hold a lighted bike parade through the city.
At approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday, the Norwich Police Department will shut down Broad Street from the Howard Johnson’s to Eaton Avenue for the parade.
A police crash scene reconstruction will also be staged at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The City of Norwich Police and Fire Departments will help the organization stage an accident scene at the corner of Henry and Court streets.
Wednesday night, the bikers organized a ride to Gilligan’s Island in Sherburne for the restaurant’s weekly Bike Night that hundreds of local riders routinely attend.
Bahrenburg said GWRRA historically held its rallies at one location for two consecutive years before moving on to a new city. However, because the New Jersey and New York groups have consolidated their efforts, the next rally may alternate back to a New Jersey site before coming back to Norwich in 2011.
“Our experiences in Norwich so far have been tremendous. Next year we may head down to New Jersey, but there’s no reason for us not to come back here for the next New York rally,” said Bahrenburg
He said the benefits of going to the same place every year made rally planing easier, but the group wants to keep introducing its riders to new locations and bring the event to new communities. The group will be focused on the eastern part of the county this year heading towards Cooperstown and the Oneonta area; when the rally returns in two years they will move west toward the Cortland and Ithaca areas.
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